The exterior of the Craggy Range Lodge, nestled in a vineyard below Te Mata Peak.
Hawke's Bay has a new hidden gem. It sits among vineyards, is bordered by the Tukituki River and has views that you just can't get enough of.
It's Craggy Range's premier winery accommodation, the Craggy Range Lodge, located at Giants Winery in Hawke's Bay.
This place is just stunning.
The understated luxury will have you at ease the moment you step through the door.
The decor is subtle and warm, but what I really liked the most about it was there were no "pops" of colour.
It is simply gorgeous.
The interior was designed by Andrew Melville. His brief from the owners of Craggy Range, the Peabody family, was to embrace a classic country look and feel while ensuring a feeling of luxury ensued throughout the lodge.
He has achieved this with subtle colours, beautiful fabrics and furniture that invites you to sit.
However, as the owner's daughter and director Mary-Jeanne Hutchinson said the hero of the lodge is the views.
Where ever you are in this lodge the views are breathtaking. Te Mata Peak towers out front, the Tukituki River runs behind and in between is an in-ground pool that sits high above the valley looking over immaculately landscaped garden in lush-green surroundings.
Local architect Simon Clarkson made change to the layout making it more spacious with cathedral ceilings and expansive hallways
The lodge has four luxurious king bedrooms, each with ensuite, spacious open-plan living and chef's kitchen. When I say chef's kitchen I don't just mean it's fit for a chef, I mean a chef will come and cook for you.
If you decide you'd like to rustle up a little something for yourself, the fridge is stocked with local produce including cheese, mushrooms and eggs, and you can help yourself from the huge vegetable garden.
During their stay guests will have access to an impressive wine selection including large format and rare library wines. A Craggy Range sommelier will take guests through a personalised wine tasting as part of the experience. I wanted to move in for good.
There's a spacious courtyard with open fire and inviting soft furnishings to relax on and enjoy a glass of wine after a day exploring Hawke's Bay.
Guests can also access a helicopter as part of the Ultimate 2-Day Wine Tour that includes an aerial tour of Giants Winery and the Kidnappers Vineyard in Te Awanga. The tour ends with a picnic and wine tasting in the Gimblett Gravels Vineyard with a Craggy Range Winemaker.
I love the personnel touches the family have added to the lodge. There are books from their childhood, which instantly gives the place that lived-in feeling.
Many of the furnishings and ornamental items have been hand-selected by Mary Peabody and Mary-Jeanne. "We have been looking at pieces for the lodge for a long time and it was important for us to use as much locally-sourced materials as possible. New Zealand, and in particular Napier and Havelock North, offer a world-class range of artwork, antiques and furnishings and we felt the lodge was an ideal location to showcase the region's treasures," Mary-Jeanne said.
"We want people to feel relaxed and at home when they step through the door. To me the decor reflects a luxurious, timeless New Zealand warmth, however the majestic views are the hero of the lodge."
The exterior was designed by John Blair and as with the philosophy behind all of the Craggy Range buildings, it had to fit in with the Hawke's Bay landscape.
The Owner's Lodge is not just somewhere to lay your head, it's an experience not to be missed.
CRAGGY RANGE
The family-owned winery, established in 1997, lies in the shadow of the spectacular Te Mata Peak in the premium wine-growing area of Hawke's Bay.
Based on the single vineyard philosophy of winemaking, Craggy Range was the first in the southern hemisphere to make single vineyard wines from multiple New Zealand regions with grape varieties matched to place. The winery produces a portfolio of quality wines including the iconic Prestige and Family collections, as well as Limited Editions. The grapes, grown in estate vineyards in Hawke's Bay, Martinborough and Marlborough are selected for their special soils and unique climates, producing wines with character and complexity.
The architecturally inspired Giants winery complex and vineyard are also home to the Craggy Range Cellar Door and the award-winning restaurant Terrôir at Craggy Range.
Nestled among the vines, the Craggy Range Vineyard Cottages offer self-contained boutique accommodation, while the Craggy Range Lodge at the rear of the property offers an indulgent food and wine experience. For more, visit craggyrange.com.
RATES
At $2500 a night in the high season, $2000 a night in the low season, the lodge sleeps up to eight people, includes in-lodge private wine tasting and complimentary bottle of Prestige Collection wine on arrival. Food and Wine Tour/Ultimate 2-Day Tour - price on application. Other activities include bike riding, golf at Cape Kidnappers and guided fly-fishing.
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